Question for American moms of uncircumcised boys

[SarahBear]

So I came across something warning moms of boys against doctors forcibly retracting the foreskin of their boys during well child checks. I didn't think about this when I took my son to his 2 month check, but I did my research on the doctor/physician's assistant and knew she leaned toward natural and AP type practices. If I go to another doctor for whatever reason, how common is it that doctors try to retract the foreskin? Everything I read talks about how they're not trained in proper care of the foreskin and they often act on the myth that it needs to be retracted each day for cleaning.

 

[Fizzyfefe]

My son's doctors have never tried to retract his foreskin. They just pop his diaper off, examine his penis and scrotum, and then flip him over to examine his buttocks. I didn't know it was common for doctors to try and retract the foreskin. If you need to see another doctor, I would recommend asking them their practice regarding uncircumcised penises before you even make an appointment. I think it is beneficial to know about a doctor's practices before seeing them, so I actually called around and did interviews with multiple doctors before I ever gave birth.

 

[Zephram]

Presumably you would be there with your son, so if they go down there and look like they're trying to retract his foreskin, you just ask them to stop.

 

[lisaalove]

I've lived in both alaska and nevada now and in Alaska with my almost 5 yo son they have never once tried that. Even after we moved here to NV they haven't tried it and after I had my second son his doctor hasn't tried it either. So I've never had a doctor do it.

 

[caitlyn2009]

My son is uncircumcised and due to illness he has seen many doctors... no one had ever attempted to retract his foreskin. I have also never been advised to do so. Many doctors will have been updated on proper care through continuing education that is required for them.

 

[misspriss]

Both the peds he has seen for well child checks have commended me on keeping him intact and have made no efforts to mess with his penis. When he has seen other doctors for illness, they did not check his penis. It has not been an issue for us, but I did watch like a hawk the first few times his diaper came off.

 

[zorak]

My sons paed has never attempted to do anything with his penis nor have any of the other docs in the practice.

Im in San Diego and I think due to the transient international population there are more intact penises than in other areas.

 

[justplay91]

My son's doctor is a kind of older man, and a little more old fashioned but he never retracts my son's foreskin. All he really does is check to make sure there isn't any swelling or redness and checks the scrotum and testes.

 

[justplay91]

Forgot to say we live in a "traditional" area of the US where circumcision is definitely the norm, and still no docs or nurses have ever tried to pull the foreskin back.

 

[MommyJogger]

I'm in central PA. Our ped at one practice retracted our first son's foreskin. It was quick, unexpected, and I barely got a "Nonononononono" started before it was done. Don't rely on being able to stop it. The ped at the practice we switched to argued with us about our second son saying he "Wouldn't retract, but needed to see how far it will naturally retract to rule out phimosis." This was at our 2w appt (phimosis is not a condition that exists until around puberty), so that was bullshit. We do not take the diaper off at well baby visits until the doctor has looked us in the eye and agreed not to touch his penis AT ALL. There's no reason for a doctor to touch a baby's penis, there's nothing to 'check for' there, but we consent to checking his scrotum or the diaper would not be removed.
ETA: In our area, different doctors will also recommend pulling it back at diaper changes and in the tub. It's crazycakes.

 

[misspriss]

I'm in central PA. Our ped at one practice retracted our first son's foreskin. It was quick, unexpected, and I barely got a "Nonononononono" started before it was done. Don't rely on being able to stop it. The ped at the practice we switched to argued with us about our second son saying he "Wouldn't retract, but needed to see how far it will naturally retract to rule out phimosis." This was at our 2w appt (phimosis is not a condition that exists until around puberty), so that was bullshit. We do not take the diaper off at well baby visits until the doctor has looked us in the eye and agreed not to touch his penis AT ALL. There's no reason for a doctor to touch a baby's penis, there's nothing to 'check for' there, but we consent to checking his scrotum or the diaper would not be removed.
ETA: In our area, different doctors will also recommend pulling it back at diaper changes and in the tub. It's crazycakes.

I know, it bugs the crap out of me it's on DS's chart, I just assumed it was because he was intact they put it on there or something.

 

[krissie328]

He has been seem by two doctors and neither have attempted to retract it. But if you are worried talk to them before the exam and make sure they are on the same page.

 

[MrsKChicago]

I made sure to ask about experience and policies with intact boys when we interviewed our pediatrician. If we had to switch, I would make sure to do the same with the new doctor. I suspect it really varies by region and experience, we haven't had any problems.

 

[kikizz]

The doctors that I have taken my DS to over the past couple of years have never tried to retract the foreskin, and in fact I recall being told when he was first born not to try and do so for the first few years of his life. Eek, I would be incredibly upset if any doctor tried it!

 

[MommyJogger]

And just a head's up, interviewing might not be incredibly helpful in certain areas. A lot of doctors know the bare minimum (do not retract), but still practice the opposite of evidence-based care, where they do little things that could potentially lead to harm (check how far it retracts, pull it back as far as it will go and 'tug' a little to help encourage retraction, they think they need to try and peek at the urethra, or routinely check for 'redness and irritation' under the foreskin). These same doctors may even seem horrified that you even feel you need to tell them not to retract, they might seem like a great match. I can't help but think about you guys sometimes and I had to come back and try again to encourage you to simply adopt a no-touch policy for his penis when it comes to doctors. It stresses me out even thinking about being a boy's mom for the first time again.

 

[SarahBear]

We'll go with a no-touch policy. As I mentioned before, I didn't think about it at his first appointment at 2 months and the physician's assistant that was acting in place of the doctor didn't touch at all. She just looked and commented that both testicles have descended.

If you're wondering why his first appointment was at 2 months, it's because I had a home birth with a midwife and nurse attending. His appointments up until 2 months, were with a midwife.